Ugandan footballers will, starting next season, undergo doping tests as local football body, Fufa, move to curb the vice.
The development is in line with World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) efforts to tame the widespread evil, according to Dr. James Ssekajugo, a Caf and Fifa medical committee member.
“We are stepping up doping tests among footballers, coaches and administrators at all levels,” said Ssekajugo at the Fufa press conference in Kampala on Wednesday.
“We are going to first educate them on the dangers of taking banned substances before we begin random testing when the league commences.”
National anti-doping agency (Nado) chairman, Dr. Robert Zavuga, chipped in: “After massive awareness campaign, we want to detect and deter drug abusers,” said Zavuga.
“Testing gives confidence to clean athletes and protects players taking genuine drugs,” The campaign will be fully funded by Wada through Nado and will be based on sampling method.
Fufa CEO Edgar Watson said that the doping exercise will include all leagues in Uganda, beach soccer and women footballers and will cut across all ages.